The recent announcement of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour has left the cricket world in shock.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a calculated decision by excluding five experienced players from the squad for the 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka scheduled in January 2026. Notable omissions include Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf.
However, the good news is that Shadab Khan makes his comeback into Pakistan’s 20-over squad after a long gap.
Before delving deeper into the discussions, let’s take a look at Pakistan’s updated squad and analyze how strong it is to compete against the hosts.
Pakistan’s 15-Member Squad for Sri Lanka T20I Series 2026
- Batters (3): Abdul Samad, Fakhar Zaman, and Khawaja Nafay
- Bowlers (5): Abrar Ahmed, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, and Usman Tariq
- Wicketkeeper-Batters (2): Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan
- All-Rounders (5): Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Salman Agha
Why Pakistan’s Experienced Players Miss Out Sri Lanka T20I Series?
Pakistan’s star players like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf are currently participating in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26. With the Sri Lankan tour clashing with the ongoing BBL fixtures, the veteran stars are mandated to abide by their contract rather than leaving the league midway.
Todd Greenberg, the CEO of Cricket Australia, clarified that all the Pakistani players have signed the contract to represent their respective teams throughout the 15th season of BBL. This is the main reason why the experienced players will miss out the Sri Lanka’s T20I series in January 2026.
The notable exclusions of Pakistan’s T20I squad are currently playing for these BBL teams:
- Babar Azam: Sydney Sixers
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: Brisbane Heat
- Haris Rauf: Melbourne Stars
- Hassan Ali: Adelaide Strikers
- Mohammad Rizwan: Melbourne Renegades
Why PCB Selectors Chose Youngsters Over Experienced Players?
Pakistan Cricket Board promised Cricket Australia that the BBL franchises would get the full services of their players throughout the season.
As the Pakistan players signed up for the entire BBL season, the PCB had no choice rather than test the strength of existing bench players for the Sri Lankan series.
Also, the players informed the board about their intentions to return from Australia if the selectors need them for the international fixtures.
Earlier, PCB denied issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to its key players due to the Sri Lankan tour, but later changed the plans by giving an official approval in October this year. This decision came after Pakistan concluded as the runner-up of the Asia Cup 2025 final.
Potential Replacements for Sri Lanka T20I Series 2026
Here are the potential replacements PCB has found to replace these star cricketers for the forthcoming Sri Lankan T20I series:
| S.No | Role | Experienced Pakistani Player | Potential Replacement in T20I Squad |
| 1. | Batter | Babar Azam | Maaz Sadaqat |
| 2. | Pace Bowler | Shaheen Afridi | Mohammad Wasim |
| 3. | Pace Bowler | Haris Rauf | Naseem Shah |
| 4. | Pace Bowler | Hassan Ali | Salman Mirza |
| 5. | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Mohammad Rizwan | Usman Khan |
A Last Rehearsal for Pakistan Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan, riding high on the confidence of their recent success in the T20I tri-series at home, will now aim to dominate against the hosting nation, Sri Lanka.
All three T20Is will be played on January 07th, 09th, and 11th at the same venue— Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium in Dambulla.
However, the Pakistani players will travel to Sri Lanka in the first week of January 2026. The upcoming 20-over series in Sri Lankan soil could be a perfect rehearsal for the visitors, as their matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 are scheduled in the Island nation.
Under Salman Agha’s captaincy, Pakistan had a memorable run in T20Is this year, having won 21 out of 34 games. It includes notable wins against South Africa and the tri-series. However, losing the Asia Cup 2025 final to India is something the men-in-green would certainly regret.
Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Selectors Prefer Ishan Kishan Over Rishabh Pant for IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs
Overall Verdict
Pakistan’s 15-member T20I squad for the upcoming Sri Lankan tour isn’t filled with any surprises. Apart from the inclusion of uncapped cricketer Khawaja Nafay and the return of Abdul Samad, the squad looks much more predictable.
Although Nafay hasn’t been a standout performer in domestic tournaments, his selection in the Salman Agha-led squad before the T20 World Cup 2026 has ignited debates among fans and experts.
Out of several Pakistani cricketers participating in the Big Bash League, Shadab Khan is the only player who has been named in the 20-over squad against Sri Lanka. The 27-year-old is set to make his comeback after a six-month hiatus, having made his last international appearance against Bangladesh in June 2025. Overall, the Sri Lankan T20I series is a valuable chance for Pakistan to finalize and build a formidable squad for the T20 World Cup 2026.
